U.S. Finalizes Plan to Cull Barred Owls

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has finalized a controversial 30-year plan to kill up to 452,000 invasive barred owls in California, Oregon, and Washington to protect the declining populations of native northern and California spotted owls. Barred owls, native to eastern North America, began appearing in the Pacific Northwest in the 1970s and have since crowded out the smaller, federally threatened spotted owls. This plan, which involves trained shooters, aims to prevent the extinction of spotted owls and aid other species affected by the barred owls' predatory behavior. Despite the ecological rationale, the plan has faced significant opposition from 164 wildlife welfare organizations, which argue that it is reckless and could result in a massive body count without guaranteeing long-term benefits for the spotted owls. Critics also point out that the barred owl's range expansion may be a natural response to environmental changes, including climate change. Wildlife officials emphasize the necessity of the plan to carve out space for the survival of spotted owls, which act as an umbrella species for other wildlife in the region.